WASHINGTON – The Interior Department is releasing more than $475 million to help repair the damage from Superstorm Sandy, which roared up the East Coast last fall.

The department said Tuesday the money will go for 234 projects that will repair and rebuild parks, refuges and other agency facilities damaged by the storm. Money will also go to historic preservation efforts and to investments in scientific data and studies to support recovery efforts.

Sandy pounded several states in late October, especially New York and New Jersey. It was the deadliest hurricane in the northeastern U.S. in 40 years and the second-costliest in the nation's history.